September 17th, 2012: US Fulbrighters Attend Orientation, Thirteen US Fulbright Students and Scholars attended an action-packed orientation program on September 6th and 7th.

The newest Fulbrighters, who have been awarded grants to study and research in Ireland, arrived to the Fulbright Offices for an introduction to Ireland and to the Fulbright Program. Executive Director, Colleen Dube, and Assistant Public Affairs Officer at the US Embassy, Christy Doherty, welcomed the new arrivals to the “Fulbright Family.” Fergal Costello of the Higher Education Authority and Fulbright Alums Lia O’Hegarty and Gary Murphy, provided some context and background to Irish education, politics, and media.

The Fulbrighters were also able to study the Irish language with Siobhán Ní Mhaolagáin, a former FLTA at Lehman College. After lunch, the Fulbrighters participated in a tour of the National Museum at Collins Barracks, which was led by Labhras Joye, and then attended The Plough and the Stars at the Abbey Theatre.

The second day of the orientation brought the US Students and Scholars out of Dublin and into the Meath countryside, with wonderful tours of the Hill of Tara and Trim Castle.

 

As the Fulbrighters now begin their programs of study and research at their Irish universities and institutions, the Fulbright Team wishes them luck and hopes the orientation program gave them insights and fresh perspectives on Ireland.